Karnataka chief minister D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday sought a detailed report on police action against protesters in Bengaluru, warning that accountability would follow if there had been any unnecessary use of force. His statement came a day after demonstrators and photojournalists accused the police of manhandling them during a protest over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Several protesters were detained on Monday while attempting to march towards the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer’s office, demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the revision exercise. The protesters also accused the police of manhandling members of the media during the action.
Taking note of the incident, Shivakumar said the right to peaceful protest is fundamental to democracy and that the government cannot demand that right for itself in New Delhi while denying it to others in Bengaluru.
“I have sought a full report on the circumstances that led to the police action. If there has been any unnecessary use of force or excess, accountability will follow,” he said in a post on X.
Shivakumar said disagreement with the Election Commission, his government or him personally did not diminish anyone's right to express dissent peacefully.
“Karnataka must hold itself to the democratic standards that we expect from the rest of the country. There will be no double standards,” he said.
Earlier, Karnataka home minister Priyank Kharge had said the handling of the protesters by Bengaluru Police would be reviewed and that he had instructed the force to ensure peaceful demonstrations were not disrupted.
“The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to our democracy. It must be respected, protected and never suppressed,” Kharge said in a post on X.
He also appealed to protesters to cooperate with the police and keep authorities informed to ensure their safety and protect others' rights.
“The police are here to protect your rights, not to stand in the way of your voice,” he said.
Kharge added that the authorities' responsibility went beyond maintaining law and order to creating an environment where citizens could express dissent freely and without fear.
“In a democracy, peaceful dissent is not a threat to law and order. It is a right that law and order must protect,” he said.